Designer Spotlight

Amy Lau, Founder
Amy Lau Design

What originally inspired you to become an interior designer?
“My grandmother was an artist and a collector of all kinds of exotic materials from around the world – pottery, cacti, shells, coral, stones, minerals and different kinds of papers. She was and still is my inspiration. She created miniature worlds and environments all around her, so I naturally did too.”

Where did you grow up, and how did it affect your sense of design?
“I grew up in the Southwest and the natural desert environment helped shape my imagination – the golden sunsets, the arroyos and canyons, the cloud formations, the vast scale of the sky and most importantly, the colors of the earth. I was also inspired by the artists and designers who were moved by the same landscapes and cultures that I was, like Georgia O’Keeffe, John Marin, Palo Soleri and Mary Colter.

This room was designed for clients who have small children. We wanted this interior to introduce an element of clarity in the midst of children playing with their toys. The idea combines luxury and beauty with freshness and light. Clean, simple lines that are also functional were a priority because the area is used often by the entire family. To give the room’s linear layout an ethereal quality we introduced undulating lines in the window treatments

What is the most uncommon place you find inspiration for your designs?
“The most unusual place for me to find surprising design ideas is at handmade craft fairs where I find embroiderists, glass designers, exotic-stone carvers, mosaicists and unknown ceramicists.”

What is your definition of good design?
“Good design is original, well executed, has appropriate scale and materials. It is of course functional and yet stops you in your tracks.”

What rules of design should everyone follow?
“Just like in art, there are no rules in design.”

What was the best design advice you ever got?
“Be true to your own vision but be flexible enough to engage new influences.”

What is the most common design challenge and how can people overcome it?
“The most common design challenge is keeping things simple in a complex environment. I recommend constantly editing to create interiors that are refined and therefore elegant and timeless.”

This interior is a good example of how a client’s taste in art can influence the design process. The client owned a Rex Ray painting and while researching the painting I discovered that Ray was commissioned by Elson and Company to produce a collection of custom-designed, hand-knotted Tibetan rugs. The client was so excited about the rug that it became the heart of the project. It also led to our first purchase, a Vladimir Kagan sofa that mimics the rug’s abstraction and fluidity.

What is your favorite new design trend?
“The newest design trend is to understand that everything in a room from the smallest item to the largest has meaning and directly affects your experience in a room. My design philosophy is more curatorial than decorative. My motto is ‘to curate don’t decorate.’ Therefore I intellectually and meticulously edit each and every item in a room, so that there is a purpose for every object.”

What new materials/technology/products interest you?
“Micarta, an early and now obscure sheet laminate made from linen and resin. It was the precursor to celluloid and bakelite. Marc Newson just recently used this material to create his limited edition Micarta chair. The most intriguing technology to me was created recently by General Motors Engineering. They created a dynamic digital tool to copy the way trees, bones and other natural materials unfold to create sculptures. The furniture designer, Joris Laarman used this program to create a resin lounge chair and aluminum chair.”

Where are your favorite places to shop?
“I love to visit Tribeca and source mid-century modern pieces at Mondo Cane, Donzella, Antik and R 20th Century. One of my favorite haunts to look for German mod ceramics from the ‘60s and ‘70s – a great love of mine – is The End of History in the West Village. For the best antiquing under one roof, I hit Center 44 which has around 70 dealers and is open to the public.”

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